CHAPTER 8
Las Vegas, 1950

     Violet could feel her heart pounding in her throat, the music that surrendered to the pressure of her emotions slowly coming to an end. Her warm tears couldn't extinguish everything she'd been through, yet only carry her forward until a time would eventually come when that searing pain is distant enough to forget more than she remembered. 

          "Listen," Benny spoke smoothly, the baritone of his voice reverberating through Violet's bones, "It's getting late. We both have matches tomorrow," he explained.

     The brunette cut into his statement, "You're free to go, Benny, I never asked you to stay," she lifted her eyes up to meet his, her words coming out of her mouth quickly, taking him the opportunity to finish. 

     Their bodies were only a few inches apart since the stool wasn't made for two people to sit on, but neither did anything about it. There weren't many ways someone could use to brighten up Violet's mood and Benny was certainly not the right person to try, especially with what stupid thought of kissing her twisting his mind.  

     But he was the one standing there beside her. And the whole tough act she liked to pull on whenever she was in front of a crowd was something Benny had easily noticed, which somehow caused him to develop an inexplicable wish to comfort her. 

          "I actually wanted to ask if you want to join me in my room and maybe talk about it."

          "Talk about what?" Violet's voice trailed off.

          "I don't know, maybe that song you don't like." 

     The air was so brittle it could snap. Violet could feel the fear in her chest waiting to take over. Perhaps it only wanted to protect her but there really wasn't any danger, not at all. Benny's eyes showed the kind of gentle concern her father used to have. He laid his hand lightly on her shoulder, and instead of flinching as she would usually do, Violet was soothed by it. He left his hand there and spoke with such a soft voice she felt his words calming me more by the way they were said than the actual words. It felt as if she was wrapped in a blanket of his caring. 

✩

     The young woman found herself following Benny, struck by a sense of deja vu. She remembered how two days ago she was wandering around the halls, completely lost, hoping to get some sense in his head for what he'd said in that interview and now she was willingly going with him to his room. 

          "Here we go," he said, mostly to himself, putting the keys in the hole and twisting them so the door would open. 

     Everything looked just the same as before — except for a few chess pieces and some of his black shirts laying on the ground. Violet was greeted by a pleasant sweet vanilla perfume, which reminded her of the French woman that knew Townes. It even made her question herself if she'd been there earlier, but she wasn't going to ask him. Benny let her walk in first and took care of her tiny bag and his own leather jacket.  

          "Do you want some coffee? Or anything else to drink?" Benny asked her, walking towards the espresso maker. He turned around, glancing back at her as he tried to reach for two tiny cups.

          "Coffee's fine." 

          Violet's giggle softened the room as she watched Benny struggling but she came to an abrupt stop immediately when he turned his head to look at her, her fingers on her lips.

     He smirked as he noticed her reaction, "Don't you dare, Davis, I saw that," Benny pointed with one of his fingers at her as he waited for the espresso maker to fill up the cups, leaning against the wall. Violet's face split into a smile before casting her eyes out of the window briefly, then returning to his still smiling face, "I've already made you laugh," he said, "Do I get anything for that?"

          "You gotta do better than embarrass yourself," Violet pointed out and eyed the chessboard on the table. It was old-fashioned and mahogany, not one of those mass-produced items, but real wood right the way through. 

     Benny touched his chest, acting like Violet's words actually hurt him, "Ouch," he latched onto the cups and walked up to her, handing the girl her drink. Violet took a tiny sip from it and turned her nose up at the bitter taste of the coffee. Benny's eyes were trained on her figure as she didn't move her eyes from the board, "It's a gift. From the Soviets. That's why the pieces are different," Benny told Violet, "You don't like it black?" He immediately asked, referring to her coffee. 

     She shook her head. "Depends on my mood."

          "And what's your mood now?" Benny chuckled a bit scornfully as he gave her some sugar to add.

          "Curious," the girl spoke clearly, "Is this a second-place prize or something?" 

     Benny stuck his tongue out to wipe the corner of his mouth, "It's a prize for getting to play in Russia, actually. Like a diploma for participation. Not that I imagine you would know," Benny joked. He had a plain expression on his face so Violet would think he was being serious. 

          "Very funny."

     Benny started to place the tiny chess pieces in their respective spots. His gaze fell on her again, "We have enough time for a game," He chewed nervously on his lower lip as he waited for the girl to say anything, just to make sure things weren't as bad as they'd been. 

     There was so much in Violet's silence sometimes, so much she just won't say. He could see by her expression there was a lot going on in her head, but if he'd ever asked her directly, she would use sarcasm against him, "Now tell me, what's up with that song?" 

     A rush of fear seemed to grip her as she heard his question, "My mom used to force me to play it for her," she simply spitted out the words, like ripping a bandage off. 

     Benny arched a brow, surprised by the fact that she wasn't having trouble speaking to him about this kind of personal stuff, considering their previous experiences. 

          "There were these lessons she and my dad had signed me up to before I discovered chess," Violet moved her first pawn, " I really liked it and the lady that was teaching me was a great woman. The song I played to you was her favorite, actually."

     Benny made his move, "Why'd you quit?" He tried to avoid the topic that had to do with her mother. 

          "I never did," Violet almost touched her knight, "I mostly did what my parents wanted me to do. Well, what Martha wanted."  

          "Is that your mother's name?" 

     She moved her bishop, "Mhm," Violet glared up to look him in the eyes. "I always knew he was genuinely happy whenever I was playing chess. But he would never show it, at least not around her. Because chess is a men-exclusive thing," she mocked Martha, gesticulating in a playful manner. 

     They both went silent for a few seconds, Benny was trapped between tough decisions. White had a comfortable situation against the isolated pawn. Violet moved her Rook to C1, waiting for him to make a move with his queen. 

          "And what made you join the Open this year?" Benny filled their conversation with another question. He wasn't even speaking that much and Violet was already dominating the whole board. 

          "One reason," Violet uttered. "Beth." 

          "Harmon? Why?" Benny blinked, glaring up at her, confusion spreading across his face. 

     Violet leaned backward, studying the board again, resting her chin on her hand. She gave Benny a quick glance before taking his innocent-looking pawn.

          "Can't you take a hint?" The girl commented again. "She's not afraid. I used to be frightened when I was her age. She's stepping out of her comfort zone every time because she aims for the win. And she always gets it," Violet caught him by surprise already looking at her again as she assured him Beth was the best competition he could ever have. 

     The boy folded his arms at his chest, "Are you being serious?"

          "What is it, Champion? Mad that she might steal your trophy?" 

     Benny's brows lowered and knitted together, "I am mad that you're suddenly thinking of yourself that way."

     His voice was filled with truth as he spoke. Violet didn't know exactly how to react. Benny would usually throw irony around and to be honest, Violet was just the same. But this time, it was like the honesty underneath both of their facades had finally come to light.

          "Everyone is very easy to fool, you just need to get to their soft spot. Beth's not like this. Things have clearly changed, you said it yourself."

          "What about me? Am I easy to fool?" 

          "Dunno. Your soft spot's hard to find," Violet gave him a shrug, "That's why I was most comfortable with girls."

     Violet didn't expect that move, the King's Gambit. She had thought Benny was the slow, strategic sort. This move, though, opened up risks for everyone. Violet glanced at the clock. There was no time to ponder, she moved her queen's pawn to the edge, as was her habit.

          "Easy there, Alekhine," Benny grabbed hold of her hand. Violet raised her head, "Take a look at this."

     The pawn exchange in the center of the board opened Benny up to an attack, and his black knight sacrificed for the position. Might have been a blunder, even though Violet seemed more confident. He saw a possible check and decided to take it — moving his rook into position at H6. 

          "I bet you five bucks you can't get out of this," He asked. Violet brought her body closer to the table, analyzing every possible move that would lead to her escape. 

          "Watch me."

     The girl was now sitting down on the carpet with her feet together, so there was no space between them. Benny's rook, still protected obliquely by his bishop, might've just pulled a win out of this situation and flipped it, which brought another proud smirk on his face. Unless there was something he didn't see. Reluctantly, he removed his fingers from the rook, committing to the move. Why was she smiling? 

          "My money, Champion. I request to receive my prize," Violet held out her hand for him to give her the money she expected, accompanied by an honest laugh. 

     Benny returned the laugh, "Oh, shut it," he jokingly said.

     On his way to get his wallet, Benny ran his hand over the cup of coffee, the liquid flowing over the board and the carpet, "Ah, shit," he cursed, searching with his eyes for something to wipe the stain off.

     This made Violet grab a few tissues she had found on the table. The girl kneed down, rubbing his carpet lightly. 

     Benny rushed back to where she was and followed her steps, using a damp cloth, "Should I ask for extra costs for cleaning your mess?" She ran a hand through her hair.  

          "Stop complaining about it. That's a sin too," Benny pointed out.

     Violet's breathing became softer as her eyes locked in with the boy in front of her. Benny's expression melted into a pensive look, both lowering the speed of cleaning. Her body squirmed just a little as her muscles relaxed. They knew that the small distance between them didn't matter anymore, they could've made it inexistent in any second, they both were aware of the tension they had created and they both seemed to want it. But there was this thought that told her to stop, step back and not even think about getting another inch closer to him. 

          "You never told me what's up with you and all of those sins," Violet dropped her gaze.